Rio Grande Rattlers attend composite mountain bike race

FRISCO, Colo.—The Rio Grande Rattlers Composite Mountain Bike Team wound its way to Frisco for their first competitive race of the season.
Student athletes from Monte Vista, Alamosa, and Sargent joined their coaches and parents for a weekend of fast and furious biking August 26th and 27th.
Sophomore Kristen David from Sargent made history as the first female Rattler to race sprinting to a 23rd place finish.
Junior Devin Arellano from Alamosa High School, started toward the rear of the pack. But he powered his way around 50 other riders to finish 84th in the very competitive Junior Varsity field of 140 riders.
Senior Rand Kidd from Sargent finished in 130th place and senior Jackson Mumper from Alamosa finished in 133rd place in the JV races.
Freshman Cameron Roberts from Monte Vista High School blazed through two six-mile laps for an amazing sixth place finish amongst 127 other riders.
Freshman Ryan Astalos from Alamosa High School cruised to an 118th place finish. Landon Tolsma from Sargent gutted out a strong first lap before withdrawing due to health reasons and Daniel Macias from Monte Vista suffered a broken chain and derailleur.
Head coach Brian Stevenson, team director Larry Roberts and assistant coaches Mark Skinner and Bryce Engen were excited and pleased with the team results.
The first racing weekend could not have been possible without the support of all the riders’ parents who contributed food and drinks, camping equipment and transportation.
The team was assisted by their mechanic Eric Sutter and shot by their videographer Barry Stevenson.
Several of the team’s riders also received training from Adams State University’s Adventure Sports Program during the summer by offering free tuition to their High School Mountain Bike Camp this summer.